New Zealand Eases Work Experience Requirements, Raises Income Thresholds for Foreign Workers

As of March 10, 2025, New Zealand made major changes to its immigration rules about foreign workers. Employers must decrease work experience needs when they join the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) program in exchange for higher salary requirements.

The AEWV program makes it simpler for global workers to apply because it lowers the needed amount of work experience from three to two years. Throughout March 2025 the country will raise the annual income limitation needed to apply for Partner Work Right permissions up to NZD 55,844 from NZD 43,322.76 representing 80% of the median wages. AEWV holders who support their partners must earn at least NZD 26.85 hourly from February 28 onwards.

Workers in ANZSCO Levels 4 and 5 can now stay three years in New Zealand without English language requirements at their position. Hiring organizations need to pay at least minimum wage to employees on seasonal work visas instead of meeting salary requirements. Beginning April 1st the minimum wage in New Zealand will increase from 23.15 New Zealand dollars to 23.50 New Zealand dollars.

New Zealand Immigration will review any applications received before March 10 with late processing to evaluate them under the fresh requirements at the request of applicants according to a department spokesperson.